In a game characterized more by grit than grace, the Minnesota Lynx managed to pull off a 68-55 victory over the Atlanta Dream Wednesday night at Target Center. Their fifth consecutive win, and eighth in nine games, propelled the Lynx to second place in the WNBA standings with a 12-3 record. Despite the success, Lynx forward Napheesa Collier admitted postgame that luck played a part in the outcome.
“I feel we got lucky,” Collier said via Kent Youngblood of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Collier led the team with 16 points, adding eight rebounds and four assists. Her shooting struggles continued, making only six of her 17 field goal attempts.
“I think we need to come out and be better for our game Saturday,” she added.
The game itself was far from a showcase of offensive prowess. Minnesota, known for its shooting efficiency, recorded its lowest shooting percentage of the season at 35.5%, converting just 27 of 76 attempts. Their three-point shooting also faltered, hitting only seven of 22 shots, with Bridget Carleton accounting for four of those. The Lynx's scoring struggles were obvious, managing just 68 points, which was only two points above their season low.
Game lacked ‘finesse'
Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve acknowledged the performance's lack of finesse.
“Well, as I shared with the team, that was not one for the Louvre, that's for sure,” she said. “But it's important to be disappointed with some things but still win the game.”
The defensive effort, however, was a different story. The Lynx held the Dream to just 28.8% shooting from the field, a season-low for Lynx opponents. Atlanta's struggles extended to the three-point line, where they converted only four of 23 attempts. The Lynx capitalized on the Dream's 14 turnovers, converting them into 16 points, which proved crucial in the game's outcome.
Collier's shooting woes have been a recent trend, as she has hit just 11 of her last 34 field-goal attempts and missed all 12 three-point shots in her past three games.
“It makes me want to do other things even more,” Collier said. “I know I have a heavy responsibility on my shoulders. When I'm not performing in one area, I have to step it up in other areas.”
Bridget Carleton's late-game heroics were pivotal in securing the win. Carleton, who scored 14 points, went 5-for-8 from the field and 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, including two critical three-pointers that sealed the victory. Contributions from the bench provided essential support from Natisha Hiedeman and Dorka Juhász. Juhász recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
The Lynx's defensive resilience was highlighted by a 13-0 run that began late in the first quarter, turning a one-point deficit into a 12-point lead by the start of the second quarter. This defensive stand ensured the Dream never regained the lead.
Dream’s Rhyne Howard injured in loss to Lynx
The game took a concerning turn for the Dream when guard Rhyne Howard, a two-time All-Star and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, suffered an ankle sprain. Howard, who has been pivotal for the Dream with averages of 15.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, stepped on the foot of Minnesota guard Courtney Williams during a drive to the basket in the third quarter and did not return to the game.
Dream head coach Tanisha Wright provided no immediate update on Howard's condition, stating that she would be further evaluated on Thursday. Howard’s injury could be a significant setback for the U.S. 3×3 Olympic team, as she joins Cameron Brink of the Los Angeles Sparks, who suffered a torn ACL the previous day, on the injured list.
Atlanta’s offense struggled throughout the game. Howard was limited to six points on 1-of-9 shooting before exiting. Her backcourt partner, Allisha Gray, also had a rough night, managing just seven points on 1-of-16 shooting. Tina Charles led the Dream with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Nia Coffey and Haley Jones each added 11 points.
The Dream's loss to the Lynx dropped their record to 6-7
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